Syria: Nearly 500 Dead in Rebel Infighting

85 civilians among the dead as Al-Qaeda-linked Islamists clash with fellow rebel groups.

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Maayana Miskin, 12/01/14 11:40

Syrian rebels battle regime troops in Aleppo

Reuters

At least 482 people have been killed in fighting between the Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebel group Islamist State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and other Syrian rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported.

Eighty-five civilians were among the dead, along with at least 240 non-ISIS rebels and 157 ISIS members.

The high death toll was reported after just one week of fighting across various provinces of northern Syria. Three powerful rebel alliances – among them Islamist groups - have teamed up to fight ISIS, which they have warned is worse than the Bashar Assad regime.

Rebels with the Islamic Front have made gains against ISIS, capturing a key base in Aleppo and advancing in the Idlib province. However, they have reportedly been struggling to oust ISIS in its stronghold of Raqqa.